UPDATE: |Football star locked up for killing ‘adrenaline junkie’ dad News

Mansfield Town striker Lucas Akins jailed for causing death of ‘adrenaline junkie’ father Adrian Daniel

A professional footballer who knocked over and killed a cyclist has been jailed. Lucas Akins, 36, was driving his seven-year-old daughter to a piano lesson in Mercedes G-Wagon when he crashed into ‘adrenaline junkie’ Adrian Daniel.

Mr Daniel was riding his bike home from work on Huddersfield Road in the West Yorkshire village of Netherton at the time of the tragedy, Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Striker Akins, who previously played for Huddersfield Town and currently plays for League One side Mansfield Town, had his seven-month-old baby in the car at the time a court heard he ‘failed to see’ Mr Daniel – who was wearing a camera on his helmet.

Mr Daniel, 33, suffered a ‘catastrophic’ head injury and died ten days later.

Akins, of Heys Road, Thongsbridge, near Holmfirth, was today sentenced at Leeds Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving, Yorkshire Live reports.

Prosecutor Carmel Pearson said: “On March 27 of 2022, Adrian Daniel, who was 33 at the time, was pronounced deceased at 3.43am in the morning. The cause of death was recorded as head injury caused by a road traffic collision. He’d been in hospital since March 17 after a Mercedes G-wagon collided with him.

“It was on the downhill section of the road when the G-wagon, being driven by the defendant emerged from a side road onto Huddersfield Road and the collision occurred.

“He is survived by a 12-year-old daughter and his wife and his mother. His father has unfortunately died since.

“Adrian Daniel was riding his bicycle and was travelling downhill on Huddersfield Road, heading towards the same junction. He was wearing a headcam that recorded his journey and footage shows him in a good condition.

“Crossland Factory Lane forms at a T-junction, with Huddersfield Road at a give-way junction. Traffic is obliged to give way at Huddersfield Road, which is what the defendant should have done.

“He intended to turn right into Huddersfield Road. The defendant didn’t give way at a give way sign. There is no stop sign or white line at that junction but there is an obligation to give way.

“The defendant on the footage, albeit was driving slowly, pulled out at the give way junction and struck Adrian Daniel. It was too late for Adrian Daniel to brake and he suffered a catastrophic head injury.”

The Crown said Akins’ positioning was not safe in the road. In his police interview, he said he did not see Mr Daniel. He later admitted causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

In an emotional statement, Mr Daniel’s wife Savanna spoke to the court of the horrifying impact his death has had on her and her daughter.

She said: “I can say I have learned to live life without him and live it to the full but that doesn’t excuse Mr Akins’ actions. Three years of hell, of avoidance and adding further to my trauma has finally come to a close today.

“Never being fully to live the reality of Adrian’s actions because of the farce he has made of the justice system has finally been put to bed. No power is held over my family anymore and nothing will bring Adrian back.”

Tim Pole, mitigating for Akins, said: “I begin my mitigation on behalf of Mr Akins by publicly apologising on his behalf. The fact he caused the death of Mr Daniel continues to dominate his thoughts and it’s a burden he will carry for the rest of his life.

“He understands the frustration and anger at the delay of pleading guilty and he has read today the first time the words put so eloquently put before the court by Mr Daniel’s widow and that has had a profound impact on him… He’s sorry for any additional distress the delay caused. But his remorse is genuine and his thoughts and the thoughts of his family remain with the family of Mr Daniel.”

The court heard dad-of-three Akins’ marriage had broken down at the time of the collision.

His Honour Judge Alex Menary jailed Akins for 14 months. He said Mr Daniel was a ‘keen cyclist’ who was riding home from work when the conditions were ‘fine and dry.’

He told Akins: “All of this is apparent because he was wearing a helmet cam that recorded his journey and the moment of impact with your vehicle.

“Mr Daniel was not breaking the speed limit and had adopted an appropriate road position. As he approached the junction, you appeared. You brought your vehicle to a momentary complete halt.

“The video shows you did not [stop]. On any analysis, it does not seem you would have had sufficient time to do those checks, and it is plain you did not carry them out because if you had done so you would have seen Mr Daniel who was able to be seen…

“In event you failed to see Mr Daniel and you collided with him…It was clear to emergency services he sustained brain injuries and he succumbed to those days later. It is right to say your failure to accept fault for the collision has only furthered that impact [on Mr Daniel’s family].”

Akins, who had no previous convcitions, was also made the subject of a year-long driving disqualification.

Mansfield Town said in a statement following the hearing: “Mansfield Town Football Club acknowledges today’s decision by Leeds Crown Court concerning Lucas Akins following a tragic road traffic accident in March 2022.

“Mansfield Town Football Club offers its sincere and deepest condolences to the family of Adrian Daniel at this difficult time.

“The club is considering its position with regards to Lucas and will be making no further comment at this stage.”